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Francis Jones

Francis R. Jones, 93, died July 30, 2011 in Salem.

He was born April 20, 1918 in Green Bay, Wis., the son of Jess G. and Ester R. Jones. The first years of his life were lived in Sturgeon Bay, Wis. When he was still young the family moved west and ended up in the small town of Powers.

He attended school in Powers and graduated in 1936. He entered Oregon State University in 1937 and dropped out of school in 1938. He began his working years in the logging industry. His first job was with the Coos Bay Lumber Company where he helped build the camp on Edin Ridge in Coos County.

In 1939 he was working for the same company in Coquille when he was drafted into the Army. He was sent to Fort Lewis, Wash.

At Fort Lewis he was given the choice of taking a short discharge or re-enlisting in any branch of the service. Mr. Jones chose to go into the Air Force and was sent to school at Chanute Field, Ill. He was at Chanute when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He was sent to Spokane, Wash. to join the 354th Service Squadron as a propeller specialist.

Mr. Jones went overseas with the 354th and spent the duration of the war in England, Africa, Panteleria, and Italy. He was discharged in August 1945 and returned to the West, settling in Sweet Home where he resumed working in the logging industry. He married Reta B. Rice on March 20, 1947 and they built their first home in Sweet Home in 1948. They had no children.

They moved to Potter Valley, Calif. in 1949 to work for the Ukiah Pine Lumber Company. Mr. Jones quit Ukiah Pine the same year and moved to Eureka, Calif., to work for a friend. After a short stay in Eureka he and his wife moved back to Potter Valley to run a dairy for his aunt. The dairy was sold in 1953 and the Joneses moved back to Oregon to help his wife’s parents farm in Holley. There he returned to work in the logging industry.

Mr. Jones helped to start the Elks Club in Sweet Home in 1955 and was the Exalted Ruler in 1958. He returned to school at Oregon State University and graduated with a master’s degree in Education in 1960. He was offered a job as an industrial arts teacher at West Albany High School. He and his wife bought a house and Francis continued to work as a teacher for West Albany High for 23 years.

He retired in 1983 and moved to Edgewood Mobile Park. In 1998 Mr. Jones had heart surgery and in 2001 Reta, his wife of 53 years, died.

He was an avid sports fan following high school and college sports closely. He especially enjoyed baseball and football. He was an Oregon State University Beavers fan and supporter all his life.

Surviving family members include Eileen Hampton of Jefferson, his companion the past nine years, and her family; Judy and Wes Mayer of Phoenix, Ariz. and their sons and their families – Jeff of Phoenix, Ariz. and Chris of Chico, Calif.

At Mr. Jones’ request, no services were held.

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